Birds to See in China in December
179 bird species on our list for China are recorded regularly in December
Of these, the most often recorded are Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Pied Wagtail, Little Egret, Little Grebe and Grey Heron. New this month: Lady Amherst's Pheasant, Mistle Thrush, Long-tailed Duck and Red-throated Loon and 11 more.
On the move in December
GBIF · DecArriving
At their peak
From China’s bird records, 2019–2024: arriving birds are regular this month but not last; leaving birds are regular this month but not next.
Other months
All 179 birds in December
179 birds
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.94% in Dec
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.89% in Dec
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.70% in Dec
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in Dec
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in Dec
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Dec
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Dec
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in Dec
Crested MynaAcridotheres cristatellusResidentCommon24–27 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Dec
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Dec
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Dec
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.75% in Dec
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentCommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Dec
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Dec
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.67% in Dec
Red-flanked BluetailTarsiger cyanurusWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.66% in Dec
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Dec
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Dec
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Dec
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusWinter visitorCommon10–11 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.52% in Dec
HoopoeUpupa epopsResidentCommon25–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Dec
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Dec
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Dec
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Dec
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Dec
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.43% in Dec
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Dec
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.42% in Dec
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.41% in Dec
GreenshankTringa nebulariaResidentCommon30–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Dec
Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferrugineaResidentCommon58–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Dec
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Dec
Dusky ThrushTurdus eunomusWinter visitorUncommon23–25 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.37% in Dec
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorUncommon40–47 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.36% in Dec
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorUncommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Dec
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosResidentCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Dec
Water PipitAnthus spinolettaWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.35% in Dec
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Dec
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.33% in Dec
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Dec
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusWinter visitorUncommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Dec
Plumbeous Water-redstartPhoenicurus fuliginosusResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Dec
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaWinter visitorUncommon80–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Dec
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaResidentUncommon42–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Dec
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusWinter visitorUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.30% in Dec
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Dec
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusWinter visitorCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Dec
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorUncommon25–27 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.25% in Dec
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Dec
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesWinter visitorUncommon81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Dec
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.24% in Dec
Common CraneGrus grusWinter visitorUncommon100–130 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.24% in Dec
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusResidentUncommon29–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Dec
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentUncommon41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Dec
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentUncommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Dec
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Dec
Tundra Bean GooseAnser serrirostrisWinter visitorUncommon66–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.22% in Dec
Taiga Bean GooseAnser fabalisWinter visitorUncommon68–88 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.22% in Dec
SmewMergellus albellusWinter visitorUncommon38–44 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.21% in Dec
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.21% in Dec
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesWinter visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.20% in Dec
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusWinter visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.20% in Dec
Vega GullLarus vegaeWinter visitorUncommon55–67 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.19% in Dec
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.18% in Dec
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentUncommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Dec
Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinusResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Dec
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentUncommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Dec
GoldcrestRegulus regulusWinter visitorUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Dec
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisWinter visitorUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Dec
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisResidentUncommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Dec
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisResidentUncommon69–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Dec
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Dec
OspreyPandion haliaetusWinter visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.12% in Dec
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentUncommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Dec
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.10% in Dec
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusWinter visitorUncommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Dec
Japanese WaxwingBombycilla japonicaWinter visitorUncommon18–21 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.10% in Dec
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Dec
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.09% in Dec
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentUncommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Dec
Black EagleIctinaetus malaiensisResidentUncommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.08% in Dec
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentUncommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaWinter visitorUncommon66–94 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.08% in Dec
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaSummer visitorUncommon19–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
Willow TitPoecile montanusResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
Red-crested PochardNetta rufinaResidentUncommon53–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Dec
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.07% in Dec
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorUncommon140–165 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
RedshankTringa totanusSummer visitorUncommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Bar-headed GooseAnser indicusResidentUncommon68–78 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.07% in Dec
Red-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxSummer visitorUncommon39–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Blue Rock-thrushMonticola solitariusResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Dec
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorUncommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Northern GoshawkAstur gentilisWinter visitorUncommon46–61 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.06% in Dec
White-crested LaughingthrushGarrulax leucolophusWinter visitorUncommon27–31 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.06% in Dec
Black SwanCygnus atratusResidentUncommon110–142 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
White-tailed RobinMyiomela leucuraResidentUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Dec
Cinereous VultureAegypius monachusResidentUncommon98–120 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.06% in Dec
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Dec
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.06% in Dec
Little OwlAthene noctuaResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Dec
BluethroatLuscinia svecicaResidentUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.05% in Dec
Temminck's StintCalidris temminckiiWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in Dec
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.04% in Dec
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Dec
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusResidentUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.04% in Dec
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Oriental Honey-buzzardPernis ptilorhynchusSummer visitorUncommon52–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Black-tailed GullLarus crassirostrisSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Dec
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.04% in Dec
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.04% in Dec
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.03% in Dec
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.03% in Dec
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorRare33–38 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Dec
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Common RosefinchCarpodacus erythrinusSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorRare46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Dec
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
House SparrowPasser domesticusSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.03% in Dec
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Common RavenCorvus coraxSummer visitorUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
WryneckJynx torquillaWinter visitorUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Red JunglefowlGallus gallusResidentRare42–75 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Dec
Purple HeronArdea purpureaSummer visitorUncommon78–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Long-eared OwlAsio otusWinter visitorUncommon35–40 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.02% in Dec
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentRare140–160 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.02% in Dec
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentUncommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
MagpiePica picaSummer visitorUncommon44–46 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.02% in Dec
DipperCinclus cinclusSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Crag MartinPtyonoprogne rupestrisSummer visitorUncommon14–15 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.02% in Dec
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusSummer visitorUncommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
GarganeySpatula querquedulaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.02% in Dec
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusResidentRare31–38 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.02% in Dec
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresSummer visitorUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
ChukarAlectoris chukarResidentRare32–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Dec
Lady Amherst's PheasantChrysolophus amherstiaeSummer visitorUncommon100–120 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.01% in Dec
RuffCalidris pugnaxWinter visitorUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in Dec
Water RailRallus aquaticusWinter visitorRare23–28 cmRegularly Jun–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minorResidentRare14–16 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
BlackbirdTurdus merulaSummer visitorUncommon24–25 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Great TitParus majorSummer visitorUncommonRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusWinter visitorRare52–71 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
European RobinErithacus rubeculaPassage migrantRare13–14 cmRegularly Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorRare15–18 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.01% in Dec
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.01% in Dec
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusSummer visitorUncommon26–29 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorRare37–60 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.01% in Dec
Bonelli's EagleAquila fasciataResidentRare65–72 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Orange-headed ThrushGeokichla citrinaResidentRare20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Blue-eared BarbetPsilopogon cyanotisResidentRare20–23 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.01% in Dec
Green-legged PartridgeTropicoperdix chloropusScarceRare28–30 cmRegularly Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Black GrouseLyrurus tetrixPassage migrantRare40–55 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.01% in Dec
Booted EagleHieraaetus pennatusSummer visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.01% in Dec
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Dec
Reeves's PheasantSyrmaticus reevesiiSummer visitorRare100–210 cmRegularly Dec–Jul · 0.01% in Dec
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensPassage migrantRare69–84 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.00% in Dec
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorRare80–122 cmRegularly Dec–Feb · 0.00% in Dec
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentRare48–66 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 0.00% in Dec
Golden PheasantChrysolophus pictusSummer visitorUncommon90–105 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Dec
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaPassage migrantRare17–19 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.00% in Dec
Alpine ChoughPyrrhocorax graculusSummer visitorUncommon36–39 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.00% in Dec
Great Grey ShrikeLanius excubitorSummer visitorRare22–26 cmRegularly Dec–Jul · 0.00% in Dec
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisWinter visitorRare14–15 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.00% in Dec
FieldfareTurdus pilarisSummer visitorRare22–27 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.00% in Dec
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorRare53–69 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.00% in Dec
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriPassage migrantRare38–42 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Dec
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaWinter visitorRare37–41 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Dec
Stock DoveColumba oenasSummer visitorRare32–34 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.00% in Dec
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaSummer visitorRare16–17 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.00% in Dec
Data: EOD – eBird Observation Dataset (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), accessed via GBIF.org, CC BY 4.0. Records from 2019–2024, aggregated and filtered by Birdfact. How these lists are made